Delosperma plant named ‘DSAB13-1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Delosperma  plant, ‘DSAB13-1’, that is characterized by its compact and very horizontal plant habit, its relatively small leaves, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit, and its flowers with petals that are bright red-purple in color, petaloids that are white with light purple tips and anthers that are yellow.

Botanical classification: Delosperma cooperi.

Variety denomination: ‘DSAB13-1’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant Patent Applications filedfor plants derived from the same breeding program that are entitledDelosperma Plant Named ‘DSAA13-1’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser.No. 14/544,004), Delosperma Plant Named ‘DSAM13-1’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 14/544,007).*

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma cooperi ‘DSAB13-1’ andwill be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘DSAB13-1’. Thenew cultivar of Delosperma is a herbaceous perennial grown for containerand landscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Ichinimiya-City, Aichi-Pref, Japan. Theoverall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars ofDelosperma plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habitscombined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flowercolors.

‘DSAB13-1’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in 2012 as asingle unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived fromself-crossing an unnamed and unpatented plant from the Inventor'sbreeding program in 2011. The Inventor's reference number for the parentplant is DSARW12-2.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysoftwood cuttings in 2012 by the Inventor in Ichinimiya-City,Aichi-Pref, Japan. Asexual propagation by softwood cuttings hasdetermined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘DSAB13-1’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘DSAB13-1’ exhibits a compact and very horizontal plant        habit.    -   2. ‘DSAB13-1’ exhibits relatively small leaves.    -   3. ‘DSAB13-1’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming        flowering habit.    -   4. ‘DSAB13-1’ exhibits flowers with petals that are bright        red-purple in color, petaloids that are white with light purple        tips and anthers that are yellow.

The parent plant of ‘DSAB13-1’, Ref. No. DSARW12-2, differs from‘DSAB13-1’ in having flowers with petals that are lighter purple-pink incolor. ‘DSAB13-1’ can also be most closely compared to cultivars withco-pending patent applications from the same breeding program thatdiffer from ‘DSAB13-1’ mostly in flower color; ‘DSAA13-1’ and‘DSAM13-1’. ‘DSAA13-1’ differs from ‘DSAB13-1’ in having flowers withpetals that are red-orange in color at the apex blending into red-purplenear the base. ‘DSAM13-1’ differs from ‘DSAB13-1’ in having flowers withpetals that are bright red purple in color at the apex and lighterred-purple near the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The plant in thephotograph is 2 months in age as grown in a 12-cm container outdoors inLisse, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘DSAB13-1’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘DSAB13-1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘DSAB13-1’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of two month-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in 12-cm containers outdoors in Lisse, TheNetherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of theRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Mid April to mid September in            Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Compact and very horizontal.        -   Plant size.—About 5.3 cm in height and about 13.6 cm in            diameter as grown in a 12-cm container.        -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.        -   Diseases.—No more susceptible or resistant to diseases than            other Delosperma cooperi varieties.        -   Root description.—Fibrous roots.        -   Propagation.—Softwood cuttings.        -   Growth habit.—Vigorous.        -   Root development.—Roots initiate and fill a 104-cell plug in            3 weeks and the planted plugs fully develop in 9-cm            container within 6 weeks.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—147D, upper side strongly tinged 174A to 174B.        -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 4.6 cm in length            and 2 mm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—An average of 1.7 cm.        -   Stem substance.—Succulent.        -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, densely pubescent with very            short glandular hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length and            156D in color.        -   Branching habit.—Average of 20 lateral branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in diameter.        -   Leaf substance.—Succulent.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface (upper and lower surface).—Slightly glossy,            slightly pubescent with very short glandular hairs; to small            to measure size, 157D in color.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 137D, mature            upper and lower surface; 138A        -   Leaf size.—About 2.6 cm in length and 3.5 mm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 6 (3 pairs) per lateral branch.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary.        -   Flower number.—An average of 2 per lateral stem, 160 flowers            and buds per plant in a 12-cm container.        -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.        -   Flower longevity.—A few days.        -   Flower type.—Single.        -   Flower size.—Average of 1.6 cm in diameter and 7 mm in            depth.        -   Flower buds.—Broadly ovate, an average of 7 mm in length and            4 mm in diameter, color; 138B, tinged 180D, base 144C.        -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 5 mm in depth and 1.3 cm            in diameter.        -   Sepals.—5, broad ovate in shape, margin entire, an average            of 5 mm in length and 3 mm in width, broadly acute apex,            broadly cuneate base, both surfaces finely pubescent, color            young and mature upper and lower surface; 138B.        -   Petals.—An average of 44 per flower, rotate and slightly            curved, narrowly oblanceolate in shape, surface is smooth            and glossy on both surfaces, margin entire, apex obtuse,            base cuneate, an average of 6 mm in length and 1 mm in            width, color: opening flowers upper and lower surfaces;            between 72A and N74A, fully opened flowers upper and lower            surface; N74A.        -   Petaloids.—An average of 30 per flower, rotate and near            vertical surrounding stamens, lanceolate in shape, surface            is moderately to highly glossy on both surfaces, margin            entire, apex acute, base truncate, an average of 3 mm in            length and 0.5 mm in width, color of immature and mature            upper and lower surface NN155C, tip is 75A.        -   Peduncle.—Average of 1.8 cm in length and 1.5 mm in            diameter, weak in strength, straight on top of lateral            branch at 0°, 179C to 179D in color, surface moderately            glossy, sparsely to moderately pubescent with very short            glandular hairs.        -   Pedicel.—None, individual flowers directly on pedicels.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—5, an average of 1.8 mm in length, style and stigma            are not distinguishable, 144B to 144C in color, ovary is            143C in color.        -   Stamens.—Average 60, anthers are dorsifixed, narrowly oblong            in shape, an average of 0.5 mm in diameter, filaments are            1.5 mm in length and NN155D in color, stamen is 13A in            color, pollen is moderate to high in quantity and 13C in            color.        -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the            conditions tested.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named‘DSAB13-1’ as described and illustrated herein.